hawkins



April 21, 1925.

w. w. HAwKlNs IGNITION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 20, 1922 pril 21, 1925.

w. w; HAwK'lNs IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Feb 20 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'HIIMHIISIHIIMIIIIIIIHIB Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

. *UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFrtcE.

WILLIAIM W. HAWKINS, OF BROOKLYDL NEW YORK, AS'SIGN'OR T0 WEBSTER ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF ACINE, WISCONSIN, ACORE'ORATION OF WISCONSIN.

IGNI'I'ION SYSTEM.

Application flled February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,985.

To all whom 'it 'may conc'ern: y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM VV. HAW- KINS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Systems, -of 'which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the acconipanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. c

My invention relates to an ignition system wherein each spark plug of an engine is connected with the secondary of one of a plurality of` ignition coils which are successively'excited from a` source of current common to all of thel ignition coils. 'It contemplates the provision of a generally improved system of this class.

As the characteristics, principal objects, and advantages of my improved ignition system willbest be understood from a description read in connection with illustrative drawings I shallv proceed at once to a description of the accompanying drawings in 'which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic -representation of an ignition circuit embodying my invention;

,Figure 2 illustrates how the primary, secondary and tertiary windings of one of the ignition' coils may be mounted upon a straight core, and

Figures 3 to 6 inclusive illustrate different arrangements of said primary, secondary and tertiary,w1 nd1ngs upon a rectangular.

core.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to Figure 1, reference character 10 indicates a four cylinder 'engine provided with spark plugs 11-11, each of which is'adapted to be supplied with high tension ignition current, at 'the proper time in the cycle of 'the engine operation, from one of a plurality oftignition coils, each of the ignition coilsbeing indicated as a whole by reference lnumeral. 12. Each ignition coil comprises three windings, namely, a

`primary winding P, a secondaryV Winding S, and a tertiary windlng T.

he tertiary winding may be in all respects similar to the rimary. The secondary compri'ses a relatively greaternumber of turns of compzn'atively fine Wire, while the primary and connected with the insulated terminals of spark plugs 11-11. One end of each of the primaries P is connected with one of the segments 13--13 of a. timer mechanism 14. The other ends of the primaries are brought together as illustrated, and are electrically connected with each of two contacts 15 and 16. Each' of the contacts 15 and 16. is adapted to be engaged by a. movable switch 17 which in turn is electrically connected with one of the terminals of an. alternating current magneto 18. The other terminal of the magneto is grounded. Switch 17 is moved into contact with the button 16 when the engine is to be started, and is shifted to contact with button 15 when the engine is running. One end of each of the tertiary windings is grounded, the other ends of said tertiary windings being brought together, and being electricall connected to the'stationary or insulate contact of an interrupter meclianism 19. The movable interrupter contact is grounded; hence the tertiary windings are short circuited through ground when the interrupter contacts are closed, the circuits of the tertiary windings being opened when the interrupter contacts separate.

The timer mechanism 14 comprises an en- At 21, I have diagrammatically illustrated a suitable master vibrator having a condenser connected across its contacts. One end of the vibratory winding is connected with contact button 16, the other end of said winding being connected with the stationary ilo vibratory contact. The vibratory contact is connected with the ungrounded end of each of the ignition coil primaries P.

Now let us assume that switch 17 is in'engagement with contact button 15 (the master vibrator not functioning when the switch is in this position), that the engine is running and that the timer roller has reache'd the p0- sition illustrated in F igure 1. Cylinder et is now ready to fire,.and a spark will pass at its associated spark plug. as soon as the interrupter contacts separate. Vith the timer rolier and interrupter contacts in the position illustrated in Figure 1, the primary of the ignition coil assigned to the spark plug in cylinder 4 is in the closed circuit with magneto 18, but no high tension ignition current is created in the secondary of such ignition coil because the circuit of the tertiary winding of such coil is closed, the

tertiary winding serving to neutralize, or substantially to neutralize, any inductive effect which the excitation of the primary would otherwise have upon the secondary. The 'interrupter cam now separates and opens the circuits of the tertiary windings. The tertiary winding of the ignition coil assigned to cylinder 4, no longer neutralizes the inductive effect of its associated primary upon the secondary winding which is in inductive relation thereto. As a result, a high tension ignition current is induced in said secondary, and a spark passes at the plu of cylinder 4. i

y 'Ie operation just described is repeate as the engine operates, the timer roller 15 successively connecting the primaries of the several ignition coils with the current source through ground, and the interrupter functioning to open the circuits of the tertiary windings each time a spark is to b'e created in one of the engine cylinders.

When starting the engine, the switch 17 is preferably moved into contact with button 16. With the switch in this position, and with the timer roller in contact With any one of its' associated segments 13-43, the master vibrator functions rapidly to interrupt and re-establish the circuit of the ignition coil primary' which is connected to ground by roller 20. Otherwise the operation of the system with switch 17 -in contact with button 16 is the same as the operation of the system When switch 17 contacts Wih button 15.

In Figures 2 to 6, I have illustrated various ways of mounting the ignition coil windings upon their associated core C. In F igure 2, I have illustrated an ignition coil comprising a straight core, the primary, secondary and tertiary windings being concentrically-disposed around said core as illustrated. i

In the arrangement of Figures 3 to 6, I employ a rectangular core which afi'ords a closed path for magnetic flux created by the excitation ofv the primary. In the arrangement of Figure 3, each of the windin s is mounted upon a separate side or leg o the core O. In the arrangement of Figure 4, the primary 'and secondarywindings are located upon opposite sides or legs of the core, the tertiary winding being formed in two properly connected Sections which are mounted upon the other sides or legs of the core.

In the arrangement of Figure 5, the primary and secondary are concentrically arranged upon the same side or leg of the core, the tertiary winding being placed upon the opposite side of the core. In the arrangement of Figure -6, the primary and tertiary windings are disposed upon the same side of the core, the primar being located upon the opposite side. ther suitable coil larrangements will doubtless suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

Having thus illustrated and described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an ignition system, a plurality of ignition coils each comprising a primary winding, a secondary winding in inductive relation to the primary winding, a tertiary winding from which the current 'traversing the primary winding is at all times excluded, said tertiary winding adapted when included. in a closed circuit to neutralize the inductive effect of the primary -upon the secondary, and distributor mechanlsm for `selectively energizing said primary windings.

2. In an ignition system, an ignition coil comprising a primary winding, a secondary winding in inductive relation to the primary winding, a tertiary winding from which the current traversing the primary is at all times excluded, said tertiary winding adapted when included in a closed circuit to neutralize the inductive effect of. the primary upon the secondary, and means for including the tertiar Winding in a closed circuit, including t e primary winding in circuit with a current source, and then opening the circuit of the tertiary winding, seriatim. i

3. In a system of the class described, an ignition coil comprising a core of magnetic material, primary, secondary, and tertiary `windings carried by said core, means for periodically including the tertiary winding in a short circuit from which the current traversing the primary is excluded, and means for eriodically exciting the primary winding a ter the tertiary winding has been included in said short circuit.

4. In a system of the class described, an ignition coil comprising in combination a core of magnetic material, primary, secondary and tertiary windings carried by said core, means for periodically connecting the' primary winding in circuit with a current source, and for opening said c1rcu1t, means adaptedprior to the completion of the pri- `said core-said last-mentioned windings being'substantially similar, means for including the primary Winding in circuit with a current source, and means adapted When operat'ed to make and break a separate circuit including the tertiary winding, said last 'mentioned means adapted to complete the circuit of the tertiary Winding priortto the completion of the primary circuit, and to open the circuit of the tertiary Winding while the, primary winding is in circuit with the current source.

6. An ignition coil comprising a magnetic core and primary, secondary. and tertiary windings, automatic means for periodically connectmg the primary winding in circuit `vith a current source, and means adapted periodically to include the tertiary windingV in a short circuit from which the current` from said source is excluded and then interrupt such short circuit While said primary winding is in circuit with said current source. w

, 7. An ignition system comprising an ignition coil which` includes a magnetic core carrying primary, secondary and tertiary windings, a high-tension circuit including the secondary winding, a primary circuit including the primary winding and a current source, means for closing and interrupting said primary circuit, and means adapted to include the tertiary winding in a short circuit from which the current from said source is excluded and for interrupting such' short circuit, said last 'named means including said tertiary winding in said short cir-v cuit before said primary circuit is closed= 8. 'An ignition system comprising an ignition coil which includes a magnetic core carrying primary, secondary and tertiary windings, a high-tension circuit including the secondary winding, a primary circuit including the primary winding and a current source, means for closing and interrupting said primary circuit, and means adapted prior to the completion of the primary circuit to include the tertiary winding in a short circuit from which the current from said source is excluded, said last-mentioncd means adapted to interrupt such short circuit prior to the interruption of the primary circuit. i

9. An ignition system comprising a plurality of ignition coils, each including primary, secondary and terti'ary windings, a current source, means adapted sucessively to connect said primary windings in circuit with a current source, and means for periodically including the tertiary windings in a short circuit from which the current from said source is excluded.l

10'. An ignition system comprising a plurality of ignition coils, each including primary, secondary and tertiary windings, a current source, means adapted successively to connect said primary windings in circuit with a current source, and means for short circuiting each tertiarywinding prior to the connection of its associatedf primary in circuit With the current source and for opening the circuit including the tertiary wmding while its .associated primary is in circuit Wlth the current source, said tertiary wmdmgs being at no tlme in c1rcu1t with said i SOllI'Ce.

terrupt. the short circuit of the tertiary windlngs while each primary is--connected with the current source, none of said tertiary windings being 'at any time in circuit with said current source.

- 12. An ignition system comprising a plurality of spark plugs, a plurality of igniticn coils each com rising a core and primary, secondary'an tertiary windings in inductive relation thereto, eachof said secondary windings being connected in circuit to one of said spark plugs, the source' of current having one terminal thereof grounded and having its other terminal electrically connected With one end of each of said primaries, timer mechanism adapted successively to ground the other ends of said primaries, and interrupter mechanism comprising contacts adapted when closed to shortl circuit all of the tertiary windings.

13. An ignition system comprising a. plurality of spark plugs, a plurality of ignition coils each comprising' a core and pri-` mary, secondary and. tertiary windings in inductive relation thereto, each of said secondary windings being connected in circuit to one of said spark plugs, the source o-f current having one terminal' thereof grounded and having its other terminal electrically connected with one end ofteach of said primarios, timer mechanism adapted successively to ,ground the other ends of said primaries, interrupter mechanism comprising contacts adapted When closed. to short circuit all of the tertiary windings, a master vibrater, and switching means adapted when in one position to include the master vibrater in Circuit with the current source,'

and the several primary coils, and when in another position to eliminate the master Vibrater from the primary circuit.

y 14. ln combination, a current source, a magnetic core, a Winding carried by said core and excited from said source, two other windings carried by said core, .said lastmentioned windings being in separate circuits traversed by induced currents only,

- first means for interruptfng one of said lastmentioned circuits, a spark gap in the other of said last-mentioned circuits, and second means for interrupting the circuit of the ywinding which is excitedfrom said source,

VVILLIAM W. HAW'KIN S. Witnesses EDNA V. GUsTArsoN, EMILE Botiicnol's. 

